Another road trip in preparation: need help from the UK Pelicans

[GeorgeK]

I have got some unexpected vacation starting next week.
Our plan (with my fiancee) is to drive to John O'Groats, at the northern tip of Scotland.

While I have a good idea of the distance, I have about zero knowledge what road would be nice, where to stop for food, what type of place to stop for the nights, etc...
We would like to stay in the more typical "Pub with hotel with breakfast", or some B&B places. Also, it would be nice to know where *not* to drive, sleep, eat. We'd like to go home with the car and our stomachs intact (so no "haggis" plans, thank you very much...).

So, anyone in Blighty care to let us in on the good places to see, to eat, to sleep in the UK?
Also, anyone care to see a lost Pelican with a weird accent, to share a drive on your favorite stretch of roads?

We'll be taking the 1983 930, because it is the one that is the most watertight, and the one that can be driven 10 hours in a row without being certified totally deaf afterwards. Pic of car:



Thanks in advance!

[LakeCleElum]

George - I did a road trip to Scotland, Wales and Northern England in 2001 in a rented Opel. I highly recommend you visit "Obin" on the west coast of Scotland for a night - B&B's on the water and a 2 block walk to town.
In Northeast England, I'd suggest:
1) Holy Island
2) Bambaugh Castle
3) Annwick Castle (from the Harry Potter movie)

Happy touring.....Bob S.

[GeorgeK]

Can't believe no one is awake in GB.
No Help?
Guess I'll eat haggis after all.

[Mark sP]

You MUST drive the A82. From at least Crainlarich north through Fort William (Yucky industrial town, don't stop here) up to Fort Augustus. Make sure that you stop overnight in Fort Augustus. Lower end of Loch Ness. Beautiful. Eat plenty of local Trout and Salmon. Continue on A82 upto Inverness. Loads of Hotels all very reasonably priced and of the sort you are looking for.

This is perhaps one of the finest roads in Scotland. Before you reach Fort William, you drive through Glencoe. Good historic battle site and museum. There is a scenic alternative route here which simply winds it's way around Lochleven and then rejoins the 82. Gorgeous.

Thats about all I can tell you. But trust me, the A82 was built for Porsche.

Have a great time. I haven't been back up there for 8 years. Seeing your post makes me want to plan a trip.

[MFAFF]

George,

We're awake, just working.

First off I will assume you are arriving via the Tunnel? But when?

If so get yourself up either into London or beyond fairly quickly....

There are a couple of places you may well want o see whilst you are over.

1) Porsche Club of Great Britian in Moreton in March, always happy to have visitors.
2) Lots of good driving roads in the Cotswolds around Oxford/Gloucester/Cheltenham.

3) North Wales has great driving, try heading towards Lake Vrynyn or Bala, I'll try to find road rederences for you later.
4) Snowdonia from Bala to Llanberis is great, fantastic roads.

5) Lake District jusr above Liverpool is fantastic with Hardknot pass etc etc.

6) Scotland, you need to drive thro Glen Coe ( cannot recall the road, but I'll check.
7) Most A raods in Scotland are pretty good.

Places to visit, I guess it depends on you interests, but here a re a random few.....

Gaydon Motor Museum on the M40 motorway, a collcetion of British cars, now owned by Ford.
Donnigton Park, the world's largest Collection of F1 cars. At Donnington Park at the junction of the M42 and M1. A few Porsches there...
Cars of the Stars in Keswick, just off the M6 in the Lake District and als onear Edinburgh.

If you are interested in airplanes, who knows then there are a whole rash of great aircraft Museums to visit.....Duxofrd near Cambridge, the there on the 12th in the morning for a pre 73 register visit with guided tour of one of the buildings, by me.....




Or you could visit RAF Cosford up near Coventry
Or one near york or one near Edinburgh were they are reassembling a Concorde.

As for accommodation I'd try to stay in some B+B's if possible, the hotels often do not have the character you are looking for but always check if they have a car park....

If you are stoppign by London PM me and we'll see if we can get togther this w/e

[Mark sP]

OK, on the English part of the trip, I agree with MFFAFF, The museum at Gaydon is excellent. This means coming north on the M40 from London. Which in turn brings you to Stratford on Avon (Shakespear), Warwick and it's Castle (perhaps the finest example of a Castle anywhere in the world?). All this within a 20 mile radius of Gaydon. From Stratford to Moreton in Marsh (and the UK PCAR Club) is a mere 15 minutes. Which brings you nicely into the heart of the Cotswolds. (My neck of the woods so to speak). Loads of places to eat drink and sleep in an area of typical English beauty. I can recommend two outstanding hotels in Stow on the Wold. The Roman Court Hotel and Stow Lodge Hotel.

Also in this area, if you go past Coventry, there is a Roman Villa worth seeing.

I don't know much about North England. I have only driven through it on my way to Scotland. However, if you like Steam Trains, then the Museum at York is supurb.

If you head over to the South West from London before moving north, then Cheddar Gorge has some fantastic caves that you can explore. You could then come up via Bath, and Cheltenham, both lovely Spa Towns with good shopping, which would lead you into the areas I have already mentioned. And some nice roads to drive aswell.

If you check the website for the Buggatti owners club (who own Presscot Hillclimb circuit), you may want to time a stop in Cheltenham to be able to visit on a day when a Hillclimb event is planned. Some awesome machinery regularly races here. Lots of 911 guys among others. A great day spent smelling burning rubber.

I hope this helps you plan your trip. Two words of warning though. SPEED CAMERAS!!!

Those B'stards are everywhere. Hidden behing bridges and in bushes etc. Some counties paint them yellow so you have a chance to spot them. Others are more money orientated and actively hide them to generate income.

[soup dragon]

You can get an online route planner at http://www.theaa.com/
Have a great trip and bring plenty of money cus petrol is not cheap!

[911-32]

Try this site for a guide to "the best drive in the uk" - it is west part of Scotland. The photos on the site are superb.

http://www.stevecarter.com/bestuk.htm



Richard

[MFAFF]

Ok just had lunch with my Scotland: the race track consultant.....

a couple of important additional questions
1) Do you like golf?
2) Do you like Whisky?
3) Do you like walking?

All of these will change your priorties...

First off we think a circular coast route is probably the best... clockwise or anit makes no difference but we'll start from Edinburgh having arrived via the east coast on the A1.

Yuo would head for Dundee via St. Andrews on the A917.....aiming for a little place north of Montrose on the A92..called Inverbervie, for the Uk's best fish and chips...

Then heading towards Inverness, either via the A92/A90/A96 or inland towards |viemore and the Spey Valley, great mountains.

At Inverness try to stay a The Bunchrew House Hotel a little outside Inverness, in Bunchrew (www.bunchrew-inverness.co.uk).

Then head norht on the east coast to wards Wick or John O'Groats along the A9 and A99.

The inland raods are great but they lack gas stations and can change suddenly to a gravel trakc unexpectedly...not good.

Across the top along the A836 heading for Durness and a great beach and headland walk to Faraid Head just shy of Cape Wrath.

Thne head along the A838, there are few other roads towards Loxford Bridge and take the A894 to Ledmore Junction and the A8356 to Ullapool.

At the end of Loch Broome, near Braemore you'll turn onto the A832 towards Gairloch....Try to stay soemwhere along the Loch Maree if possible.

Then head for Kinlochewe and the A896 to Torridon. Just after Shieldaig on the A896 you'll turn off towards Fearnmre and Applecross and over the tops to rejoin the A896 at Kishorn.

The onto Kyle of Lochalsh and a quick trip over the bridge to Skye. Aiming up Skye on the A87 /A850 towrds Dunvegan looking for a small place called Colbost and the Three Chimneys Hotel and Restaurant.
http://www.threechimneys.co.uk/

Book now to avoid disppointment.....

Back down the A863 to Drynoch and the B8009 towards Carbost and the Talisker distillery..

Then back towards Kyle but go south on the A851 to Ardvasar and a Ferry to Malaig. A fast ride along the A830 takes you to Fort William and the famous A82 over Geln Coe and Rannoch Moor.

Sweep down the A82 past Crianlarich to Tarbet and adiversino to the A83 and an Oyster Bar overlooking Loch Fyne just opposite Cairndow.

Heading bakc towards the A82 you;ll find the A814 towards Helensburgh just waiting to scoot you back towards Glasgow....

[Joeaksa]

George,

Cannot help on routes or such but please do a good check of the weather and forcast in Scotland. It can change in a moment and be very difficult even this early in the season. Everytime I have been there we have gotten a change in WX so its good to be prepared.

Wet weather and warm gear is a must... otherwise take a camera and get some good pictures for us!

If you have time you might want to stop by and see the Jimmy Clark museum. Not sure if its in Duns or Kilmany in Fife but as long as you are there...

JoeA

[MFAFF]

A great guide to Scotland.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0099460270/pd_ka_2/026-9948329-3694006

Some more images:



These thanks to my consultant and research Michael Gentz ,who whilst not owning a P-car does drive something decent an M-coupe....

[rob justice]

If you get the chance - stop off in South Queensferry for a bar lunch or supper - Its approx 10 miles from Edinburgh. You'll be impressed by the world famous view!!!
Also search out web sites that relate to the location of UK speed cameras - but you might be okay having overseas plates - sometimes its too much hassle trying to chase the fine!!!!!!
You can now also take the ferry from Belgium to Rosyth - right in the heart of Scotland.

[GeorgeK]

Thanks to all so far.
I have a reservation for the ferry to Dover (the eurotunnel is *double*the price, I don't feel like paying 250 Euros for half an hour in a train... Some, ahem, girls are cheaper...).
My ferry arrives at about 17h30 in Dover.
Anyone knows of a nice B&B, or smeller Hotel, with emphasis on quietness and safety (I'd like to keep the car and its radio in my posession)?
I'll be sure to shoot pics, and write a report for the forum.
Keep th einfo coming!

[dickster]

hi george

can't help with hotel i'm afraid.

but head out of dover. i would head straight for the m25 and head south on it to go to the west of the country.

1 1/2 hours out of dover will get you to brands hatch - world famous circuit with a hotel!

but agreed the route to take is via welsh border, stop over at the lake district, and carry on up. avoid the m6 like the plague.

the scottish highlands and lochs are the nicest, quietest roads in the uk - imho.

nice btw

[kqw]

Mmmmm...Single Malt Scotch in the evenings..........Best in the world

[911mot]

The M25

Also watch out for the highway bandits who try to poison you first and then rob you. They call themselves 'Little Chef'

As for hotels I'd opt for a small B&B - you can normally park on the drive and get a room overlooking

[911mot]

Will Speeding Stance mean a blow for North Wales tourism as motorists stay away?

The Welsh force - which has come under considerable criticism for its hard-line stance against speeding drivers - is the first in the UK to take the step to send out stern warning letters to motorists who are caught doing 37mph. So far, as many as 800 warning letters have been sent out.
The force said on Friday that the scheme had been so successful, it might be extended to people caught driving at 35 and 36mph. (Source BBC)

Tip : When travelling in north wales, listen to local radio where the Police's Arrive Alive mobile speed trap campaign advertise where they will be or where they are on certain days.
You can also check the schedule of the mobile traps http://www.arrivealive.org.uk/schedule/

http://www.ukspeedcameras.co.uk/

[dickster]

what happened to george?

[rob justice]

Did he make it beyond the M25???????

[Mark sP]

"Also watch out for the highway bandits who try to poison you first and then rob you. They call themselves 'Little Chef'"

Also know as Little Thief!!!